Giraffe in Decline: Facing a Vulnerable Future Table of Contents

Home , Angolan giraffe, Kordofan giraffe, Northern giraffe, Nubian giraffe, Southern giraffe, South African giraffe

I Introduction ...... I Press Release ...... I Talking Points: Time is running out for giraffe ...... I Your Biggest Questions: About the world’s tallest animal ...... I Threats to Giraffe ...... I The Giraffe Family Tree ...... I Julian & Steph: Giraffe Conservation Foundation ...... I Operation Twiga: Saving the Endangered Rothchild’s giraffe ...... I Redefining Giraffe Species ...... I How You Can Help ...... I Additional Resources ...... Introduction

One of Africa’s most iconic species has quietly been slipping toward extinction.

The Giraffe Conservation Foundation (GCF) is the only NGO in the world that concentrates solely on the conservation and management of giraffe in the wild throughout Africa. Together with partners they have dedicated more than 20 years to better understanding and monitoring giraffe, and importantly undertaking pioneering genetic evidence.

The results are profound.

Giraffe populations have declined by almost 40% in thirty years with less than 100,000 individuals remaining in the wild.

From their base in Windhoek, Namibia, GCF is on the front lines of this silent extinction. Founders Dr. Julian & Steph Fennessy, and their team of conservation and education specialists, work closely with African range states, local communities, international partners, and the IUCN Giraffe & Okapi Specialist Group to provide comprehensive awareness and to develop innovative mitigation strategies for the sustainable future of giraffe in the wild.

There is still time to save the giraffe. How can YOU help?

Mission: GCF is dedicated to a sustainable future for all giraffe populations in the wild. Press Release

[With link to official IUCN report]

Talking Points TIME IS RUNNING OUT FOR GIRAFFE

• Giraffe are already extinct in seven countries in Africa. • Their numbers continue to plummet, decreasing by more than 50,000 in just three decades. • In response to this growing crisis the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) is sounding the alarm on this silent extinction. They are raising the giraffe’s conservation status from ‘Least Concern’ to ‘Vulnerable’ as giraffe face “a high risk of extinction in the wild.” • The remaining population continues to suffer from habitat loss and fragmentation, poaching, and civil unrest, all a result of human population growth. But there is hope.

• Conservation groups like the Giraffe Conservation Foundation (GCF) are working around the clock to save this beloved species – but they cannot do it alone. • Will YOU take a moment to help save giraffe? • Spread the word about this growing crisis - get your company involved, your school, your friends - let them know how they can help save giraffe • Share this infographic on social media • Visit your local zoo and ask them to support giraffe research in the wild • Adopt a giraffe through GCF • Follow GCF on Facebook, Instagram and Twitter to stay up to date on cutting edge conservation stories • Learn more at giraffeconservation.org • And importantly – DONATE directly to help save giraffe before it is too late!

IUCN Stands Up for Giraffe

The IUCN is the world’s oldest and largest global environmental organisation, with almost 1,300 government and NGO members, and more than 15,000 volunteer experts in 185 countries. It helps the world find pragmatic solutions to our most pressing environmental and development challenges. They focus on valuing and conserving nature, ensuring effective and equitable governance of its use, and deploying nature-based solutions to global challenges in climate, food, and development.

In December 2016, the IUCN uplisted the conservation status of giraffe (Giraffa camelopardalis) from Least Concern to Vulnerable.

Two subspecies, Rothschild’s giraffe (G. c. rothschildi) and West African giraffe (G. c. peralta), continue to be listed on the Red List, although the West African giraffe has been downlisted to Vulnerable – a credit to the conservation efforts of the Government of Niger and NGO support, resulting in the population increasing. Your Biggest Questions ABOUT THE WORLD’S TALLEST ANIMAL

I Are there different types of giraffe?

All giraffe are currently considered the same species, Giraffa camelopardalis, according to the IUCN. Interestingly, they were named by the Romans who believed they were part camel and part leopard. Within the one species it was assumed there are nine different subspecies of giraffe varying in colour, pattern and distribution. However, recent research by GCF and partners suggests that there are four distinct species of giraffe and five subspecies. At present, the IUCN Red List still bases its assessment on the traditional view of giraffe taxonomy although this may change in the near future. How many different types of giraffe have you seen?

I How many giraffe are left in the wild?

Tragically, the GCF estimates that we’ve lost more than a third of the wild population of giraffe in the last 30 years and their numbers continue to plummet. There are fewer than 100,000 giraffe left in Africa – that’s one giraffe for every four African elephants.

Delving deeper, each subspecies faces its own unique perils. While the South African giraffe is the most populous with 39,000 individuals, the West African giraffe is the rarest giraffe in the world with only 450 left in wild, and there are none in captivity. Dangerously close to extinction, five of the nine subspecies have fewer than 2,000 individuals.

I Why are giraffe in crisis?

As giraffe numbers plummet, the remaining individuals are increasingly isolated due to the destruction and fragmentation of their habitat. New crop fields, towns, roads and power lines make it difficult for giraffe to roam freely and intermingle, which jeopardises the genetic health of the population. Like many wild animals, close contact with domestic livestock can also transmit diseases. Sadly, they are also threatened by a surge in poaching to fuel trade in giraffe meat, bones, skins, bone marrow and even brains.

Surprisingly, even with its long neck, the giraffe has seven vertebrae in its neck, the same number as humans do! I Who decides if an animal is endangered?

While there are many different levels of protection for imperiled species at the state, national and regional levels, the IUCN is generally considered to be the primary authority for species on a global scale. They use the most objective scientific information to systematically evaluate a species’ risk for extinction based on established criteria. Once a ruling is made, the species’ designation and assessment data are logged in the IUCN Red List of Threatened Species. This list is publicly available and helps researchers, conservationists, governments, regulating authorities and donors make informed decisions about how to best conserve biodiversity and prevent extinction. Specifically for giraffe, the IUCN SSC Giraffe & Okapi Specialist Group is responsible for providing the data.

I Do giraffe have natural predators?

While humans pose the greatest threat to giraffe, lions can easily attack a full grown adult giraffe. Such an event carries high risk for the lion though, as a giraffe’s powerful kick can gravely injure or even kill a lion. Young giraffe are much more vulnerable and can fall prey to lions and leopards, and less commonly to hyena, African wild dogs or crocodiles. Giraffe mothers are extremely protective however and keep a close eye on their little ones.

I Why are scientists studying giraffe?

Giraffe have captured the human imagination for thousands of years. Yet, for such a beloved species, there is so much we don’t yet know. We don’t know for certain how long giraffe live in the wild, how they communicate or how they’re being impacted by trade and poaching. There may even be additional giraffe populations in parts of Africa that researchers have been unable to access due to civil unrest. There is a wealth of information waiting to be discovered and organizations like GCF are working hard to close the gap, but they cannot do it alone. What would you want to learn about giraffe?

I Why save giraffe?

Can you imagine an Africa without giraffe? Giraffe help shape the landscape and play a critical role in the ecosystem. While some farmers believe giraffe compete with their livestock for food, a giraffe’s browsing on trees and shrubs can actually stimulate plant growth. Acacia leaves and shoots are one of the giraffe’s favorite meals. As the giraffe digests its food, Acacia seeds are spread to new habitat, spurring the growth of new trees. Giraffe are also thought to play a role in pollination, just like birds and bees. I Why do giraffe have spots?

Every giraffe has a unique coat pattern that identifies it, just like a human finger print. Their patches serve primarily as camouflage, but they also help the giraffe stay cool under the hot African sun. Underneath their coat, giraffe have large blood vessels surrounding the patches, branching off into smaller vessels underneath the patch. Giraffe can send blood into the smaller vessels to release body heat. In effect, each patch on the giraffe’s skin acts as a thermal window to help them regulate and cool their body temperature.

I How can I help giraffe?

The best thing you can do for giraffe is to help the GCF and others sound the alarm about the giraffe’s silent extinction, and in turn support their activities. Lend giraffe your voice and speak out about preventing the extinction of this beautiful animal. Every action you take makes a difference.

• As a member of the media: • Help spread the word about the plight of giraffe • Promote giraffe research and new discoveries • Feature a story on your local zoo, do they have a giraffe feeding platform offering locals a personal encounter? Are they supporting giraffe conservation in the wild? • Join GCF’s media list for breaking news stories such as giraffe translocations, new births and cutting edge conservation research

• As an organisation: • Stand up for giraffe by spreading the word on social media and sharing GCF’s Facebook, Instagram and Twitter posts • Match employee donations to GCF and giraffe conservation efforts • Host an event for World Giraffe Day on June 21 (the longest day or night of the year depending on where you live!) in support of GCF and its activities • Adopt a giraffe to help save the species while boosting staff morale

• As an individual: • Break the silence by speaking out for giraffe • Follow GCF on Facebook, Instagram and Twitter for breaking conservation news, moving stories and stunning photos • Adopt a giraffe to help save the species • Visit your local zoo and ask what they’re doing to help safeguard giraffe in the wild • Learn more at giraffeconservation.org • Visiting Africa? • Be a responsible traveler and ensure your tourism company is eco-friendly • Don’t buy products made with giraffe meat, hair, bones, skins, etc. • Consider visiting and supporting the parks working to bring giraffe populations back from the brink

Together, we can secure a future for this beautiful animal before it is too late! A giraffe’s heart is the biggest of any land mammal, weighing up to 11 kg (24 lbs.), to maintain blood flow up their long necks to the brain.

Threats to Giraffe

Dramatic decline in wild giraffe populations over the last three decades has resulted in a perilous situation for this iconic species. Giraffe lack the numbers to be resilient to the complex web of natural and anthropogenic threats they face. Research indicates that habitat loss/fragmentation, illegal hunting, and impacts of civil unrest are the primary obstacles to revitalising giraffe numbers.

Habitat Loss and Fragmentation Many areas where giraffe have and continue to live overlap with the pastoral grazing lands of rural farmers. This leads to the perception that livestock must compete with giraffe for access to food despite being browsers. However, research indicates that healthy giraffe populations may actually support the spread of thicket, which is an important source of food for livestock. Giraffe spread seeds as they move over the landscape, helping to encourage abundant growth of palatable plants. Therefore, education among rural livestock farmers on the benefits of sharing habitat with giraffe may positively contribute to giraffe conservation and forage availability.

As human development continues to spread across Africa, giraffe habitat is compromised by habitat fragmentation. Natural wildlife corridors are disrupted, and populations may become segregated, no longer able to mingle, share genetic diversity, or access seasonal feeding grounds. Research shows that this type of isolation leads to decreased genetic diversity, and can make the isolated population much more susceptible to declines due to predation and disease (e.g. piroplasmosis and equine herpesvirus).

While habitat loss and the steady influence of human development may not be as immediately obvious as activities such as poaching, they pose a significant threat to giraffe. As populations become more isolated, their risks are compounded, whittling away already threatened populations. Poaching (Illegal Hunting) and Trade Research suggests that poaching (illegal hunting) and trade of giraffe meat and body parts are an increasing threat to imperiled giraffe populations. In some countries throughout Africa, giraffe are a highly sought bushmeat as they provide a lot of food from a single animal. However, mostly they are at relatively low-risk targets from poachers when compared to elephant or rhino which are hunted for their tusks and horns. Giraffe are relatively easily poached using snares or guns, after which they can quickly be processed for meat and body parts. Forensic research reveals giraffe tail hairs as a common fiber in local craft trades (e.g. jewelry, textiles), used as dowry for brides or sign of wealth in various cultures, pelt handbags and carved bones have been found in local markets, and giraffe bone are regularly found in eastern medicinal remedies.

Research on the impacts of conservation tourism indicates that education about alternative economic strategies can successfully reduce bushmeat hunting and trade, especially among charismatic megafauna such as giraffe. Importantly, it can promote community-based conservation with knock-on effects to wildlife conservation.

Civil Unrest Research supports a direct link between civil unrest and increases in poaching and illegal trade. Civil unrest leads to complex crises such as a breakdown in local agriculture and viable food sources, economic instability, and increased proliferation of weapons. These conditions motivate people to rely on easily available sources of food and income--both of which can be addressed through hunting local megafauna. Therefore, civil unrest exacerbates known threats to already diminished giraffe populations and have been referred to by some as ‘War Fodder’. Perhaps most critically, it results in a breakdown of monitoring and inhibits the ability of authorities to enforce protected areas and restrict hunting/trade.

Giraffe are already extinct in at least seven countries in Africa. The Giraffe Family Tree

As highlighted currently there are nine recognized subspecies of giraffe in Africa, although GCF new research proposes four species and five subspecies. All subspecies live in geographically distinct areas across Africa and while some of the subspecies have been reported to cross-breed in zoos, there is no real evidence that this occurs in the wild. In 1998 the total number of giraffe in Africa was estimated by IUCN at greater than 140,000 individuals. In 2016, best estimates by the Giraffe Conservation Foundation (GCF) have the Africa-wide population at less than 100,000 individuals, a loss of more than a third of the population in the last three decades.

For over a decade, GCF and their partners have collaboratively led a long-term effort to unravel the mystery of giraffe genetics. Almost 200 samples from most major giraffe populations across Africa have been collected and analyzed. While the results speak for themselves, it may take a while for this research to be widely accepted.

West African giraffe – Giraffa camelopardalis peralta Population ~450 – Vulnerable, IUCN Red List

At the beginning of the 20th century the West African giraffe were widely distributed, from Nigeria to Senegal, but by the late 1990s only 49 individuals remained in the whole of West Africa. These few survivors are now formally protected by the Niger government and their numbers have risen to more than 450 individuals. However, their future is still of great concern as they live in an isolated pocket (the giraffe zone) east of the capital Niamey, and share their living space with local villagers. No other large wild mammals occur in this area, and habitat loss and destruction is increasing. In 2008, the West African giraffe was classified as Endangered and of high conservation importance on the IUCN Red List.

The West African giraffe is noticeably light in appearance. Their patches are rectangular and tan coloured, and are broadly surrounded by a creamy-colour. There are no markings on their lower legs.

Just like human fingerprints, no two giraffe have the same coat pattern. Thornicroft’s giraffe –G. c. thornicrofti Population ~600 – Vulnerable, IUCN Red List

Thornicroft’s (or Rhodesian) giraffe survive as an isolated population in the South Luangwa Valley, north-eastern Zambia. This population is geographically separated from any other giraffe by at least 400 km (248 miles) in any direction. The population of approximately 600 individuals has been relatively stable over the last thirty years.

Thornicroft’s giraffe have a pattern of large, dark, ragged leaf-shaped blotches on a cream background that continues down the length of their legs.

Nubian giraffe – G. c. camelopardalis Population <650 – Critically Endangered, IUCN Red List

The Nubian giraffe is the nominate subspecies, which means that its Latin sub-specific name is the same as the original species described because it was the first specimen recorded. The estimated number of Nubian giraffe is 650 individuals, which includes fewer than 200 in western Ethiopia and 450 in eastern South Sudan.

Exact information about the precariously small and fragmented populations in Ethiopia and South Sudan is extremely difficult to ascertain, and their numbers are likely lower due to increased poaching in the region.

The Nubian giraffe’s patches are large, rectangular and chestnut-brown. The patches are surrounded by an off-white, creamy colour. There are no markings on their lower legs.

Giraffe ‘horns’ aren’t horns at all, but are comprised of ossified cartilage that fuses to the skull in later life. They are believed to aid thermoregulation. Rothschild’s giraffe – G. c. rothschildi Population <1,500 – Endangered, IUCN Red List

Rothschild’s (or Ugandan or Baringo) giraffe range through northern Uganda and west-central Kenya. Reports of them living in South Sudan have not yet been confirmed due to the difficulty of access in the country. An estimated 450 individuals live in Kenya, and fewer than 1,300 in Uganda.

Interestingly, the majority of Rothschild’s giraffe in Kenya are outside their natural range , in contrast to those in Uganda. Rothschild’s giraffe have large, dark, rectangular blotches set irregularly against a cream background. The lower legs are noticeably white and not patterned.

In 2010, the formerly known Rothschild’s subspecies was classified as Endangered and of high conservation importance on the IUCN Red List. This IUCN status still remains, but future efforts will look at re-assessing the species and subspecies listing.

The Rotschild’s giraffe’s patches are large, rectangular and chestnut- brown. The patches are surrounded by an off-white, creamy colour. There are no markings on their lower legs.

Kordofan giraffe – G. c. antiquorum Population ~2,000 – Critically Endangered, IUCN Red List

The Kordofan giraffe’s range includes some of Africa’s more hostile areas: southern Chad, Central African Republic, northern Cameroon, northern Democratic Republic of Congo, and western South Sudan. It is estimated that fewer than 2,000 individuals survive in these war ravaged countries. Some of these population groups were previously assumed to be other giraffe subspecies, but our recent research has shown this to be incorrect and, instead, they are distinct subspecies.

The Kordofan giraffe’s patches are pale and irregular. Similar to other northern giraffe subspecies, they have no markings on their lower legs.

Female giraffe give birth standing up. Their young fall about 2m to the ground and can stand up within an hour of birth. Reticulated giraffe – G. c. reticulata Population 8,700 – Endangered, IUCN Red List

The reticulated giraffe, sometimes referred to as the Somali or netted giraffe, has a relatively limited distribution across northern and north- eastern Kenya, and small restricted populations most likely persist in southern Somalia and southern Ethiopia. It is estimated that about 8,700 individuals remain in the wild –a significant decrease from the approximate 37,000 three decades ago. However, numbers across northern Kenya appear to be increasing with improved community and private land conservation. Reticulated giraffe are commonly found in zoos.

It is easy to see why this species is called the reticulated giraffe, as its rich orange-brown patches are clearly defined by a network of striking white lines, which continue the entire length of their legs

Angolan giraffe – G. c. angolensis Population 13,050 – Least Concern, IUCN Red List

Despite their name, Angolan giraffe were extirpated (locally extinct) in Angola until recent private translocations. The Angolan giraffe’s range includes central Botswana and most parts of Namibia. Extralimital populations (those outside their natural range) have been translocated to South Africa, and to private land in Botswana and Zimbabwe. The estimated 5,000 individuals three decades ago have, today, almost tripled to an estimated 13,050 in the wild.

The Angolan giraffe is relatively light in colour. In northwest Namibia, where it is particularly arid, they can be almost colourless. They have large, uneven and irregularly notched light brown patches. Their patches are surrounded by a pale cream colour, and their lower legs are randomly speckeled with uneven spots.

The giraffe is the tallest mammal in the world. Even newborn giraffe are taller than most humans. Masai giraffe – G. c. tippelskirchi Population 32,500 – Endangered, IUCN Red List

Masai (or Kilimanjaro) giraffe range across central and southern Kenya; throughout Tanzania. Extralimital populations (those outside their natural range) have been translocated to the Akagera National Park, Rwanda. Formerly the most populous giraffe with an estimated 66,500 individuals three decades ago, less than half (32,500) of them remain in the wild today.. Ongoing reports of poaching suggest that their population continues to decrease. Masai giraffe are commonly found in zoos.

The Masai giraffe is often noticeably darker than other species. Its patches are large, dark brown and distinctively vine leaf-shaped with jagged edges. The patches are surrounded by a creamy-brown colour, which continues down their lower legs.

South African giraffe – G. c. giraffa Population <35,000 – Not Assessed (Least Concern), IUCN Red List

The South African (or Cape) giraffe ranges from west to east across southern eastern Angola; northern Botswana; southern Mozambique; northern South Africa; south-western Zambia; and eastern and southern Zimbabwe. Previous re-introductions of the South African and Angolan giraffe to overlapping areas has likely resulted in hybrid populations. There have also been extralimital (outside their natural range) introductions of South African giraffe across Angola, Senegal, South Africa, Zambia and Zimbabwe. At present, the South African giraffe population is estimated at 39,000 individuals, showing a marked increase over the past three decades.

The South African giraffe has star-shaped patches in various shades of brown, surrounded by a light tan colour. Their lower legs are randomly speckled with uneven spots.

NASA has done research on the blood vessels in giraffe legs to get inspiration for human space suits. Giraffe rock carvings discovered in the Sahara Desert are estimated to date back 9,000 years.

Julian & Steph GIRAFFE CONSERVATION FOUNDATION

Julian and Steph Fennessy did not intend to devote their lives to giraffe. Julian first visited Africa as a teenager, and quickly fell in love with the continent’s unique wildlife. While wildlife was not his passion growing up, after spending a year in South Africa, he change course to study zoology and wildlife management and wanted to return to Africa to study rhino or elephant. In 1997 Julian came to Namibia to pursue this burgeoning interest and serve as a development worker. After a few years of work in environmental education and as an ecologist, Julian noticed a troubling lack of research surrounding giraffe and decided that this was the best path for his PhD at Sydney University, Australia. Steph arrived in Namibia a few years after Julian, to complete her Masters field research. After being offered a position back in Namibia following the completion of her studies, the two met working on the same project in northwestern Namibia.

During the project in northwestern Namibia, Steph and Julian started to focus more time and attention on giraffe, and in the years that followed Julian completed his PhD whilst Steph consulted on environmental projects across the country and lecturing at the Polytechnic. In 2010 they moved to Australia for jobs and education before returning to Africa, this time Kenya, in 2007. Julian worked for IUCN and African Wildlife Foundation while Steph for the United Nations, both gaining invaluable experience and networks, which resulted in a final move back to Namibia in 2010. Just prior to this move they helped co-found the Giraffe Conservation Foundation (GCF) in 2009, originally a UK-based charity and now a Namibian NGO. Throughout all these years, both Julian and Steph worked full-time jobs while simultaneously pouring their efforts into giraffe conservation. In June of 2014, GCF launched the first World Giraffe Day – 21 June, raising enough funding to allowing the organisation to focus exclusively on giraffe conservation. Realising that timing and circumstances had finally aligned, Julian began officially working full-time as the Executive Director and Steph soon followed. Today they are both Co-Directors of GCF, and continue to the build the organization and its activities across.

Together, Julian and Steph have built GCF into the world’s premier giraffe conservation group. Their two school-aged children, Molly and Luca, often accompany their parents on trips to the field and have developed a robust knowledge of giraffe - though they will say that their favorite animals are lion and elephant! As a family of conservationists, they have shared unique adventures, including assisting Uganda Wildlife Authority Rangers arresting poachers in Murchison Falls National Park. Steph recalls being crammed into the front seat with her children while the poachers sat in the back, guarded by an AK47. Shortly after arresting the poachers, the ranger stopped the car as he had spotted some pink flowers close to the road and went to pick them for Molly.

The Fennessys’ path has been marked by unexpected adventures and opportunities. By focusing on the giraffe, GCF has given them and hopefully the world the chance to preserve one of our world’s most iconic and imperiled species.

A giraffe’s neck is too short to reach the ground. As a result, it has to awkwardly spread its front legs or kneel to reach the ground for a drink of water. In the deserts of northwest Namibia and other arid environments, giraffe absorb the majority of their moisture from condensation that gathers and is absorbed from the leaves during the much cooler nights Operation Twiga SAVING THE ENDANGERED ROTHSCHILD’S GIRAFFE

Of the 1,500 Rothschild’s giraffes left in the wild, most of them – about 1,250 – live in Murchison Falls National Park (MFNP) in Uganda. But with increasing threats from habitat loss and poaching, this population is at risk of dwindling even further. Poaching is of particular concern in MFNP, where snares left for other animals don’t discriminate, and can be fatal for giraffe as well. These conditions threaten an uncertain future for the Rothschild’s giraffes of Uganda.

Working with the Uganda Wildlife Authority (UWA) and the Uganda Wildlife Education Centre (UWEC), the Giraffe Conservation Foundation (GCF) set out to engineer a creative solution to this conservation problem. By January 2016, GCF had raised enough money for Operation Twiga. The goal of the operation was to move members of the MFNP population to a new location on the southern bank of the Nile. This would effectively create a new subpopulation, expanding the range of giraffe in Uganda.

By fundraising for Operation Twiga, GCF was able to donate a specialized translocation truck and monitoring equipment such as GPS satellite collars, binoculars, and cameras to UWA. GCF was also able to support the rather complex operation by providing technical expertise and extra man/woman power. The Ugandan team, which was made up of staff from UWA, UWEC, Ministry of Agriculture, Animal Industry and Fisheries, Makerere University, and Gorilla Doctors, was complimented by GCF’s delegation, which included GCF staff, two additional veterinarians (a game capture expert from Namibia and an animal care expert from Cheyenne Mountain Zoo), an MSc student from Michigan State University and representatives of Leiden Conservation Foundation.

With this able team, Operation Twiga began. Over two weeks, a total of 23 giraffe were captured in the northern part of MFNP. Twenty giraffe were transported to a boma (enclosure) located at the Tangi Gate/ Ranger Post, where UWA rangers and UWEC staff monitored them before being transferred to their new home on the southern bank of the Nile River. Three giraffe from the original group were released after capture when veterinarians decided it was in the best interest of their safety and health to remain in the park’s northern range.

In groups of six, eighteen giraffe (13 female and five male) were carried by truck to the southern part of MFNP. During this journey the giraffe crossed the River Nile on a pontoon ferry to reach their release site. Five of the female giraffe were equipped with GPS satellite collars, allowing for regular monitoring of their movements remotely and in the field. With the help of these GPS satellite collars, the new giraffe population can be effectively monitored and protected.

The success has sparked discussion about Operation Twiga II – a future translocation of additional Rothschild’s giraffe to the southern side of MFNP to further boost the population.

Twiga means giraffe in Swahili. Redefining Giraffe Species

Giraffe have long been one of Africa’s most iconic species. While nine subspecies of giraffe are currently recognized - based on their patterns and their distinct locations throughout Africa - groundbreaking DNA analyses have recently shifted the future of giraffe conservation. Scientists at Goethe University in Frankfurt, Germany have worked closely with GCF to collect and analyze genetic samples from every population of wild giraffe. The results, published in the September 2016 issue of Current Biology, suggest that giraffe are actually four (4) distinct species.

To reach this unexpected conclusion, GCF collected skin biopsies from 190 giraffe from each subspecies population across Africa. This necessitated extensive on-the-ground resources, including research forays into war zones where some of the rarest giraffe in the world are located. The tissue samples were then shipped to Germany where they were analyzed by geneticist Dr. Axel Janke. By looking at the giraffe’s mitochondrial DNA, and the distribution of seven distinct genetic sequences, GCF and their German colleagues were able to discover that the all giraffe DNA fell into four highly distinct sequences, strongly indicating separate species. Dr. Janke was quoted as saying that the DNA of each of the four identified species is about as distinct as that of a brown bear (Ursus arctos) compared with a polar bear (Ursus maritimus).

The recent study has recommended reclassifying giraffe to recognize the following four distinct species:

• Southern giraffe (Giraffa giraffe), mainly in South Africa, Botswana and Namibia • Masai giraffe (Giraffa tippelskirchi), found in Tanzania, Kenya and Zambia • Reticulated giraffe (Giraffa reticulata), mainly in Kenya, Somalia and southern Ethiopia • Northern giraffe (Giraffa camelopardalis), scattered throughout central and eastern Africa • Nubian giraffe (G. camelopardalis camelopardalis) of Ethiopia and South Sudan would remain as a subspecies of the northern giraffe

This research only highlights the need for increased protection for all giraffe, with less than 10,000 individuals of each newly identified species remaining. However, conservation status is based on recognized taxonomy. GCF and their colleagues now face the challenge of working to see the results of their research translated into official reclassification of giraffe into four new species before the process of giving each species special conservation status and protections can begin.

However, increased public awareness, and the global interest piqued by this groundbreaking research is helping raise the profile of giraffe around the world. Their plight, and GCF’s battle to save them, is the subject of a 2016 documentary film, released as a Natural World by the BBC in the UK and a Nature program by PBS in the United States. Momentum for giraffe conservation and support for efforts on the ground, are key to protecting this iconic species before it is lost. How You Can Help

Can you imagine a world without giraffe? By following the simple steps below, you can become an advocate for giraffe across Africa so we don’t have to imagine a world without the.

Together, we can secure a future for this beautiful animal before it is too late! Additional Resources

Ariya, George (2015). Wildlife snaring by the local community in Ruma National Park, Kenya: Can conservation tourism be an alternative livelihood strategy? International Journal of Business and Social Science. Vol. 6, No. 2.

Dudley et al. (2001). Effects of war and civil strife on wildlife and wildlife habitat. Conservation Biology. Vol. 16, No. 2. 319-329.

Fennessy et al. (2016) Multi-locus Analyses Reveal Four Giraffe Species Instead of One. Current Biology, Volume 26 , Issue 18 , 2543 - 2549

Georgiadas et al. (2007). Savanna herbivore dynamics in a livestock-dominated landscape. II: Ecological, conservation, and management implications of predator restoration. Biological Conservation 137. 473-483.

Keesing, F. (1998). Impacts of ungulates on the demography and diversity of small mammals in central Kenya. Oecologia. 116: 381-389.

Kideghesho et al. (2006). Factors and ecological impacts of wildlife habitat destruction in the serengeti ecosystem in northern Tanzania. AJEAM-RAGEE. 11: 917-932.

Kumpel et al. (2015). Giraffe and okapi: Africa’s forgotten megafauna. African Journal of Ecology. 53: 132-134.

Lee, Derek (2015). Demography of giraffe in the fragmented tarangire ecosystem. Dartmouth College thesis.

Lindsey et al. (2011). Ecological and financial impacts of illegal bushmeat trade in Zimbabwe. Fauna & Flora International, Onyx, 45(1). 96-111.

Lindsey et al. (2012). Illegal hunting and the bush-meat trade in savanna Africa: drivers, impacts and solutions to address the problem. Panthera/Zoological Society of London/Wildlife Conservation Society report, New York. 74 pages.

Lopes, A.A. (2014). Civil unrest and the poaching of rhinos in the Kaziranga National Park, India. Ecological Economics 103. 20-28.

Oosthuizen et al. (2009). Identification of novel Babesia and Theileria species in South African Giraffe (Giraffa camelopardalis, Linnaeus, 1758) and roan antelope (Hippotragus equinus, Desmarest, 1908). Veterinary Parasitology.

Van Houtan et al. (2009). Achieving success in small, translocated mammal populations. Conservation Letters 2: 254-262.

Yates et al. (2010). Forensic species identification of elephant (Elephantidae) and giraffe (Giraffidae) tail hair using light microscopy. Forensic Sci Med Pathol. 6:165-171. Inside Back Cover

● Final Message ● Acknowledgements ● Funders ● EWCL ● Contact Info